Swat Peace Agreement Strengthens Taliban Hand in Pakistan

Islamabad’s decision to allow the implementation of a parallel Islamic courts system in the Malakand Division of the Northwest Frontier Province demonstrates the weakness of the Pakistan government and military in the face of an onslaught by Taliban-backed extremists seeking to take over parts of the province. The government’s capitulation to the Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM) in Swat Valley following its campaign of violence and intimidation, which included the shuttering of dozens of girls’ schools, murder of women who declined to stop work, and public beheadings of those accused of spying, should raise alarm bells in Washington about the Pakistani state’s inability to stop spreading Talibanization in the province.

The Obama administration has reacted cautiously to the news of the Pakistani Swat deal, which sends a signal of weakness in the region precisely at the time the U.S. needs to demonstrate resolve against the forces of extremism and terrorism. Washington’s prevarication on the take-over of the Swat Valley by pro-Taliban forces undermines U.S. policy in the region and raises the critical question of why the U.S. would send troops to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan, while standing by as Islamist extremists gain ground in neighboring Pakistan.

Former President Musharraf entered in to peace agreements with the Taliban in the tribal areas in 2006, which resulted in a drastic increase in militant cross-border activity into Afghanistan and the strengthening of the Taliban’s influence in the region. An earlier peace deal in the Swat Valley also fell apart and resulted in the strengthening of the TNSM. There is little reason to believe this Swat agreement will have a different outcome. Unless and until the Pakistani civilian and military leadership work together to develop a bold strategy to counter the spreading militancy, it could be a matter of time before the provincial capital, Peshawar, falls under the sway of Taliban forces, essentially bifurcating the nuclear-armed state.

Lisa Curtis analyzes America's economic, security and political relationships with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other nations of South Asia as a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Read her research.

A few weeks back a headline came in the Times of India,"Girls to marry militants, orders Taliban," see 2 Jan 2009, 1524 hrs IST, PTI, it was really unsurprising since Taliban's social dictum were exposed during their rules in Afghanistan.The news opened with,” On the heels of their crusade against girls going to schools, the Taliban have now issued new dictum in the areas under their sway asking parents of the grown up daughters to marry them to militants or "face dire consequences". My reference to this news here is to show the social entanglement of Taliban in the region in question.

Secondly, Taliban’s dominance there and its rule like a quasi-state with al-Qaeda elements has prepared a safe haven for terrorists in the territory.

Thirdly, the move by Taliban towards Karachi and to Islamabad is a serious concern as explicitly expressed by the top leadership of Pakistan and Sindh gave clear signals yesterday. It was precisely the way that the Taliban's took over Afghanistan some fifteen years back.

Lastly, threats have been made against India and there are indications of an eastward expansion by the Taliban into Islamabad. If the Taliban gains access to Pakistan’s nuclear assets, one can imagine the shape the world might have.

The agreement negotiated did not directly involve the Taliban. The fate of Mr.Parvez Musharraf ‘s peace agreements with the Taliban in 2006 is now well known. There is little reason to believe that peace agreement will have a different outcome. It will give the Taliban time to recoup losses until they are ready to fight again.

But the news I referred to in the opening paragraph above and their opposition to schooling of children reveals a sample of possible fate of common people if Taliban is allowed to rule.

The fact of matter is that, so far as the people within the region of their rule are concerned, Taliban will persuade and bent people to their own norms . For the rest of the world, they will fight in the name of Islam and any attack over them will, as usual, be declared as attack on common people and Islam inviting human rightists and others through propaganda.

This way they will have double edge sword to attack others and double shield to protect them selves. Control over nuclear arsenals to them will be an added advantage to deface the world.

A few weeks back a headline came in the Times of India,"Girls to marry militants, orders Taliban," see 2 Jan 2009, 1524 hrs IST, PTI, it was really unsurprising since Taliban's social dictum were exposed during their rules in Afghanistan.The news opened with,” On the heels of their crusade against girls going to schools, the Taliban have now issued new dictum in the areas under their sway asking parents of the grown up daughters to marry them to militants or "face dire consequences". My reference to this news here is to show the social entanglement of Taliban in the region in question.

Secondly, Taliban’s dominance there and its rule like a quasi-state with al-Qaeda elements have prepared a safe haven for terrorists in the territory.

Thirdly, the move by Taliban towards Karachi and to Islamabad is a serious concern as explicitly expressed by the top leadership of Pakistan and Sindh gave clear signals yesterday. It was precisely the way that the Taliban's took over Afghanistan some fifteen years back.

Lastly, threats have been made against India and there are indications of an eastward expansion by the Taliban into Islamabad. If the Taliban gains access to Pakistan’s nuclear assets, one can imagine the shape the world might have.

The agreement negotiated did not directly involve the Taliban. The fate of Mr.Parvez Musharraf ‘s peace agreements with the Taliban in 2006 is now well known. There is little reason to believe that peace agreement will have a different outcome. It will give the Taliban time to recoup losses until they are ready to fight again.

But the news I referred to in the opening paragraph above and their opposition to schooling of children reveals a sample of possible fate of common people if Taliban is allowed to rule.

The fact of matter is that, so far as the people within the region of their rule are concerned, Taliban will persuade and bent people to their own norms . For the rest of the world, they will fight in the name of Islam and any attack over them will, as usual, be declared as attack on common people and Islam inviting human rightists and others through propaganda.

This way they will have double edge sword to attack others and double shield to protect them selves. Control over nuclear arsenals will be an added advantage.

The agreement negotiated did not directly involve the Taliban. The fate of Mr.Parvez Musharraf ‘s peace agreements with the Taliban in 2006 is now well known. There is little reason to believe that peace agreement will have a different outcome. It will give the Taliban time to recoup losses until they are ready to fight again.

But the news that taliban opposed to schooling of children reveals a sample of possible fate of common people if Taliban is allowed to rule.

The fact of matter is that, so far as the people within the region of their rule are concerned, Taliban will persuade and bent people to their own norms . For the rest of the world, they will fight in the name of Islam and any attack over them will, as usual, be declared as attack on common people and Islam inviting human rightists and others through propaganda.

This way they will have double edge sword to attack others and double shield to protect them selves. Control over nuclear arsenals will be an added advantage.

The Americans want to stay in Afghanistan for their ulterior motives of controling natural resources there and having a permanent base.Its them who encourage the pak. govt.to go ahead with such peace agreement and simultaneously criticising it to ultimately fight this war alongwith won over talibans inside pakistani territory with a view to smashing pak economy and dividing pakistan further.In fact pakistan and U.S.A. are hand in glove not to finish this war. i am pretty sure if pak-american forces can overpower a handfull of Talibas (only in thousands)in one month only ,what to say of 8 years.

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